Candy Raisins Logo
A little over six years ago I was spending three weeks at an art camp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One day I stopped in at the convenience store across the street from our dorms and found one bag of an odd, little sweet called “Candy Raisins.” At the time, I thought their taste was reminiscent of some sort of cleaning product. At the beginning of the bag I was a little repulsed, by the end of it I was hooked. Unfortunately, the convenience store never restocked before I went back home, and they don’t appear to be easily available outside of the Milwaukee area.
Even though I’d only had them once, I couldn’t get them off my mind. Finally about a week ago, I broke down and ordered some online from O’Ryan’s Village. In fact, I ordered just over five pounds worth. It was the smallest amount they would ship, but it was worth it.
There’s nothing that tastes like a Candy Raisin. My sweetheart described them as “chewy handsoap.” There’s some sort of flowery taste like rose water, or as their manufacturer NECCO says “they are ‘reminiscent’ of the palate that enjoyed violet candy and lilac soda pop.” While all the first reactions I’ve heard (or read) lead back to soap, there’s something irresistible about them.
When NECCO announced its plan to shut down the plant that produced Candy Raisins on May 30th, 2008, Gary Radke launched SaveTheCandyRaisins.com. As of October 14, 2008, 4761 people have signed his online petition to save Candy Raisins and many have left rave reviews of the candy. There’s even a facebook group dedicated to saving this little treat.
Candy Raisins were first made by Stark Candy Company in 1976. In 1990, NECCO (New England Confectionery Company) acquired Stark. NECCO continued to make Candy Raisins at the Stark plant in the Village of Pewaukee, WI. (The Village of Pewaukee, incorporated in 1876, should not be confused with the City of Pewaukee, incorporated in 1999, that surrounds it.) While the Pewaukee plant was shut down this year, NECCO continues to make the candy at their New England plant.
If you’re interested in trying them and don’t live in Milwaukee, here’s a list of places you can order them.
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can you get candy raisens any where??? cecavalier@earthlink.net, carrie is my name. I was born in waukesha. wis, live in Burbank, california. my cousin in Milwaukee tried to find them for me. She passed away of a brain tumor in April of 2011. She promiced me she would get them for me!1 I used to go to the 5 and dime with my grandma to get them when i was a kid. I am still addicted!!